Samaira Dharnidharka will captain the UAE at the ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup in Malaysia, where four places at this year’s ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup are available.
The 14-player UAE squad will open their Group B campaign against Oman at YSD UKM Oval on Saturday, July 11. The match starts at 9.30am in Malaysia, which is 5.30am in the UAE.
UAE then face Bhutan at Bayuemas Oval on Tuesday, July 14, with play starting at 2pm local time, or 10am in the UAE.
The tournament features 13 teams, split across four groups. The top two sides from each group will move into the quarter-finals on Wednesday, July 15.
The format makes the last-eight stage the key point of the competition. The four quarter-final winners will all qualify for the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup, which is due to be played later this year.
The tournament gives another group of young UAE cricket players the chance to step into regional competition. Dharnidharka, a fast bowler, leads a squad that includes Emily Thomas as wicketkeeper.
Subha Venkataraman has been named interim head coach. Shyla Alam will work with the squad as strength and conditioning coach, while Merin Saji is manager and physiotherapist.
If UAE reach the knockout stage, the semi-finals will be played on Friday, July 17. The third-place play-off and final are scheduled for Saturday, July 18 at Bayuemas Oval.
UAE squad: Samaira Dharnidharka, captain, Afsha Afzal Khan, Al Maseera Jahangir, Avanee Patil, Emily Thomas, wicketkeeper, Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Mehak Thakur, Neha Kumari, Rishitha Rajith, Sai Nikhil Thite, Simran Sheth, Vaishnave Mahesh.
Support staff: Subha Venkataraman, interim head coach, Shyla Alam, strength and conditioning coach, Merin Saji, manager and physiotherapist.
UAE fixtures
- Saturday, July 11: UAE v Oman, YSD UKM Oval, 9.30am Malaysia time, 5.30am UAE time
- Tuesday, July 14: UAE v Bhutan, Bayuemas Oval, 2pm Malaysia time, 10am UAE time
- Wednesday, July 15: Quarter-finals
- Friday, July 17: Semi-finals, Bayuemas Oval
- Saturday, July 18: Third-place play-off and final, Bayuemas Oval
